The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-26

into the nall from the veranda, and Tante swung
herself softly and fro in her low rocker on the
other.
Uncle MarceI1us was a Virginia Brandon. In
the dsshipg and gallant days of his early man
mood he had adventured-with o gigantic black
body servant at bis elbow. and the proceeds of
an unusually fine tobacco crop in his pocket
down to New Orleans for the avowed purpose of
dancing at one Of the then famous Gordon bleu
balls. He had it in mind to scatter broadcast
other seeds Of that unfenced crop which fashion
nc that time permitted the youth Of his class to
sow openly and above board.
Passing down Rue Bourbon on the way to
his first revel, however, he encountered the
dark and Iustrous eyes of Mademoiselle Elise
Joubert. Her pretty head enveloped in
feecy laces, her white gown was garlanded
with roses. her softly rounded cheeks had the
vslvety wilderness of a magnolia leaf She
tripping demurely along behind her short fat
mamma and her shorter lean papa near the en-
trance to the old Theatre d'Orleaus.
= The Gordon bleu with its dream of voluptuous
cct3roon sirens vanished instantly from his
mental vision He abandoned like one under a
spell his knocking companions, and elbowed a
passage. with ierceness quite unnecessary.
through the good-natured chatterirg crowd
lornging about the controle
The curtain was already up when he entered
the fne old sale. and soft hiss pursued him as
he marched with unconsciously eager and de-
tsrmired step along the narrow aisles But he
needed this no more than he needed the faint
ripple OF amusement that stirred across the
before the loge gree where she sat, and stared
Ut her with all his heart In his eyes.
The woone was hasty and impetuous. though
the wooer knew word Of French and la
belle Louisianaise had at her command but the
rnerest scrap of (convent) English
When duly informed of his demand for her
- a ~ - Il uHArV0 pffn1 n
gust, Marcellus Brandon found himself obliged
FIRST to submit it-Mademoiselle Elise consented
meekly and with down-dropped eyelids to be
transpcrted to Wheatfeld the Brandon estate,
Albemarle county, Virginia; and then, with eyes
uprolled, vowed sweetly that she would at the
instant mako herself teached cette belle langue
AnRlaise
But that was when she was Mademoiselle
Joubert. When she became Mrs. Marcellus
Brandon she placdy but firmly refused to do
either. Uncle Marcellus was fam to transfer
himself and his hundred and odd "hands" from
Denys. Rapides parish louisiana, which ample
plantation was a part of his wife's dot, and to
begin his lifelong struggle with French verbs
His forehead, knotted by years of this combat,
gradually smoothed as Marcelus and Joseph
Marie, his twin sons grew to manhood French
game to them with their mothers milk. as Pere
Joubert proudly observed, but by the time they
were fairly in trousers they learned to twist
their soft tongues TO English whenever they ad-
dressed their father. In the meantime Uncle
Marcellus used often to be seen hanging over the
parden gate, his face aglow with pleasure as he
listened O the familiar Jeems river verDacular or
INK Billy, an old Brandon retainer. And then
Ihere Bedford, his own solemn old BODY
lervant
But all that was in the halcvon days "befo' de
yahD INK Billy and Bedford had been gath
ered TO the dust these many years; the twins
were long ago gone out into the world; and
Uncle Marcellus, who growing old and had
been ssUncle" Marcelus to half the parish for
two generations least, had resigned himself to
nm unbroken tete-a-tete with Mrs marceilus,
who had become Tante alike to relatives and
friends.
Therefore. Il was worth something to see the
smile or his round red face nowadays, when
IseciIe Jcubert, Tante's orphaned niece. who had
come to live at St Denys, entered the breakfast
room with a kiss and a bonjour for Tante, and
oh the dear old English with the quaint little
favor OF accent upon it, good morning, and
kiss for Uncle Marcellus.
IL was Cecile who came along the hall now
and stood in the doorway between them She
had it appeared, brought a shawl for Tante, for
the evening was drawing on, ana Sne naa
had lighted 6, taper for the one and wrapped
the shawl about the other. she came down the
1tens and paced back and forth along the shelled
walks of her se-garden, humming gay
little chansonette and glancing now and again
toward the gate and up the lane that led to La
Ferne aux IFS whose distant chimneys showed
slender and dark against the face OF great yell
ioyg moon slowly rising into view.
Uncle Marcellus remarked to Tante in his
rainfnIiv-acoured and laborious French that
Eecile seemed to grow prettier every day. Tante
nodded pleasant assent
Now truly, Uncle Marcellus had never
81 ali his lifo loved any woman but Tante. her
ewes which remained the same large, soft and
shining wells of light that had lured him into the
Theatre d'Orleans fifty years ago Though her
form had broadened to shapelessness aud pro
nouneed uustache shaded her upper lip) had
been the only eyes IN the whole world Tor
him Yet somehow, as he sat looking at
CeciIe with her tend der blue eyes and her rose
tinted cheeks. ard her wavy hair. his heart
ktirred strangely within him. and be was minded
~ the aim little fourth fifth cousin who came
down TO the gate to bid MIN goodbye the day
he went away on that first registering journey to
a,,A VIII looked back.
was gazing so wistfuly after him. She had the
same name too. though at Wheatfeld they called
her Cis'lv and sometimes Cis And she had been
dad these forty years and more; dear, dear!
The old man coughed and Iante GOT up ana
went over and stood beside him. batting him on
fhe back with aGectionate solicituds. just
then the clatter of horses hoofs sounded in the
lane and presently the gate opened and shut
ssrTIs but Octave said Tante, reseatiDg her
salt and she smiled significantly. She spoke as
always in her soft-syllabled native tongue IT
= Inv wish she went after a short pause,
s,bat the children shall settle this marriage for
tbemseIves and it is perhaps best for them.
sThon and | were rot permitted this curious
American custom But tnen. we naa no neea OF
cau hone 70 convey an idea of the music OF
Tante's rare utterance of her husbands name
Tncla Marcellus smiled back at her through
the gathering dusk lie hso aIreauy iorsoIten
little cousin Cicely branoon.
saided and yyhetted by Uncle Marcellus's odd
American notions of liberty. The children
had taken n turn two about tie vlolet-oor-
dered walks, and then Octave had drawn his
companion aside to seat under the old magno,
LA tree, whose great white bells were hllng all
the dewy air with their rich and pungent per,
fume. !Cscile,' he had said laying bis hand
upon hers, where Il rested on tne PACK Ok sne
rustic bench, II have como-agaln-ior my an
swer"
II am sorry. Octave" Cecile had replied gent
ly. s,but IL ia always the same
s.And aI1vava the same reasonP Octave had
demanded in a slightly pauterine tone
yes" she was exclaming with some neat at
the verv moment when kindly, shrewd old Tante
was courratuIating herself that La Ferme aux
Ifs CfOr was not Octave Castor the sole e and
only heir of the good nacheior -uncie 'osepn.
Mar;a Gaa.onN and Bord du Bots. Ceciles almost
princely inheritance, were at last about to be
1891 1vaal aivvavs the same reason Will